More than a quarter of recent anthropogenic CO2 emissions are absorbed by forests. This is primarily attributed to enhanced plant growth as a result of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (eCO2).

The dominant source of hydrocarbons to the atmosphere is vegetation – biogenic volatile organic compounds or BVOCs. In the atmosphere, BVOCs undergo chemical processing, leading to the formation of secondary pollutants such as ozone and organic aerosol particles, affecting human and environmental health and climate.